You are here

GENE EDITED FOOD IMPORTS INTO EU WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SPOT

The scientist responsible for the only public trial of a gene edited crop in Europe has said the EU decision to reclassify the plants as GM will cause a regulatory nightmare for food standard agencies.

18

DEC

2018

SHARE

SHARE

European law currently requires food packaging to be labelled GM if more than 0.9% of any one ingredient is genetically modified.

But Rothamsted’s Professor Johnathan Napier, who has pioneered the GM production of Omega-3 fish oils by camelina plants, said the nature of the changes brought about by the technology would make it almost impossible to identify food imports into the EU that had been gene edited.

“The mutations created by gene editing can be identical to those created by classical plant breeding techniques or even natural variation. I cannot think of a way after the fact that you could distinguish which method had been used,” he said.

“This conundrum is one that will need to be urgently addressed by the EU’s regulatory agencies, not least if other countries and trading partners start the commercial cultivation of gene edited food crops that are then imported into Europe.”

Unlike GM, where genes from another organism are inserted into the genome, gene editing (GE) does not involve the incorporation of genetic material from other species.

According to Professor Napier, the EU ruling not only goes against the available scientific evidence, but it will ultimately hinder UN set targets for tackling poverty.

“Limiting the feasibility of GE field trials by expanding the complexity of the regulatory process and the associated financial burden of dedicated experimental sites will certainly hinder research and limit the contribution EU research can make to meet the challenge of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“Sadly, there is a general perception amongst European researchers that carrying out GM field trials is a burden that is best avoided. But at Rothamsted we understand the importance of field trials and strongly advocate for continued access to them as they are an essential component in the demonstration of efficacy for any new crop trait. “

The trial aimed to investigate the performance in the field of camelina plants whose genome had been edited to produce greater quantities of the monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, a chemical it naturally produces within its seeds.

Oleic acid demand is rising in Europe in response to calls to make processed foods healthier.

When Professor Napier, and his French colleague Professor Jean-Denis Faure (INRA-Versailles) started the trial in early June, the plants were not subject to GMO regulations - but this quickly changed with a subsequent ruling by the European Court of Justice.

“On 25 July 2018, in fact just as the plants had finished flowering, the Court pronounced that new gene-editing technologies should fall under the 2001 GMO directive. So, despite being planted as GE, the plants had to be harvested and handled as if they were GM.”

Despite this experience, Professor Napier says its vital funding agencies carry on supporting such activities, and academic institutions should not shrink from carrying them out.

Otherwise, he says, innovation in European plant science will be “significantly impaired”.

He said: “We strongly urge the scientific community to continue to make the case in Europe for access to research field trials for the evaluation of GE and GM crops.

“We must continue to advance our understanding of plant sciences and crop biology. Field trials, GE or GM, are a vital part of that process.”

About Rothamsted ResearchRothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking discoveries, from crop treatment to crop protection, from statistical interpretation to soils management. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative influence on fresh thinking and farming practices.Through independent science and innovation, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally. In terms of the institute’s economic contribution, the cumulative impact of our work in the UK was calculated to exceed £3000 million a year in 20151. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines science and strategic research, interdisciplinary teams and partnerships.Rothamsted is also home to three unique resources. These National Capabilities are open to researchers from all over the world: The Long-Term Experiments, Rothamsted Insect Survey and the North Wyke Farm Platform.We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).For more information, visit https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/; Twitter @Rothamsted1Rothamsted Research and the Value of Excellence: A synthesis of the available evidence, by Séan Rickard (Oct 2015)

About BBSRCThe Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.Funded by government, BBSRC invested £469 million in world-class bioscience in 2016-17. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.More information about BBSRC, our science and our impact.More information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes

About LATThe Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.